By Nkeruwem Cosmas
The political ‘war’ by other means appears to be the order of the day among chieftains of the All Progressives Congress following last week’s interview Minister of Women Affairs, Jummai Al-Hassan granted the Hausa service of the BCC in which she pledged her political loyalty to ex-Vice President Atiki Abubakar should he declare to run for the presidency in 2019.
Shortly after she denied reports that she had implicated one of her foremost critics of the interview Governor NasrI el-Rufai of Kaduna State as one of those who fabricated the Chibok girls kidnap in 2014, her principal, Abubakar has denied another report stating that one of the rescued Chibok girls attempted suicide to protest being compelled to attend one of his schools.
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, in Abuja, on Sunday, Atiku said the online report was untrue and then challenged government to improve on the security of life and property of Nigerians.
He said; “His Excellency Atiku Abubakar (Waziri Adamawa), Vice-President of Nigeria, 1999-2007 and founder of the AUN Group of Schools is shocked that some would-be journalists think it is fair game to exploit a young girl’s trauma to score cheap political points.
“Atiku Abubakar is not aware that anyone is forced to attend ABTI schools. The story is contrived hogwash. He urges the media, a critical partner in our march to progress and development, to remember that not everything is about 2019.
“I wish to stress that the intention of the Waziri Adamawa was to give the freed Chibok girls (just like he did to an earlier batch in 2014) the best possible education, and that was why he helped set up the foundation program to create such an opportunity in a familiar environment.
“Unfortunately, the best intentions can backfire. These girls are still healing, and clearly, the recent deterioration of the security situation in the North-East has opened old wounds.”
“The Waziri Adamawa prays that those who have suffered so much get all the treatment and support they need, and urgently calls on the Federal Government to honor its promise to make Nigerians feel safe again,”
